Parkinson's Foundation Launch Award
Offers advanced support for emerging Parkinson's disease investigators developing independent, high-impact scientific programs.
Eligibility · United States
⚠This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
The Parkinson's Foundation Launch Award is a multi-year career transition grant providing up to USD 400,000 over up to four years to support researchers making the step from mentored postdoctoral training to independent Parkinson's disease investigation. The Parkinson's Foundation is a US 501(c)(3) formed in 2016 through the merger of the National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, which has funded more than 670 scientists globally since 2010. The award is structured in two phases: a mentored phase of one to two years providing up to USD 160,000 in total, followed by an independent phase of two to three years at up to USD 120,000 per year. Eligibility is open to researchers worldwide — no institution country restriction applies. Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree and must be between 18 months and six years post-degree at the time of application. Applicants apply as individuals; eligible host institutions include universities, research organizations, and nonprofits; for-profit organizations are excluded. A mentor plan is required for the first phase of the award, and the mentor should be an established Parkinson's disease researcher providing scientific and career guidance. For the 2025-2026 cycle, the letter of intent was due October 29, 2025, the full application was due March 17, 2026, and the expected award start is August 1, 2026. That cycle is now closed, and the next cycle is expected in late 2026. Applications are submitted through ProposalCentral at proposalcentral.com. The Launch Award is designed for researchers at the career inflection point where independent science is achievable but seed funding is not yet secured; competitive applications articulate a focused PD research question, a credible mentored-to-independent transition plan, and a trajectory toward major national funding within the four-year window.
Up to $400,000 over four years supporting researchers 18 months to six years post-degree as they transition from mentored to independent Parkinson's disease research at institutions worldwide.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline